Liquid level indicator



4R. W. BLAKE LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Aug. 14, 1945.

Filed March 5, 194i Ww fn yum/L INVENTOR Patented Aug. 14, 1945` invention relates generally `to indicating apparatus for luse with ,liquid storage tanks,- and isconcerned more-particularly with .the provision of improved means for enablingquick andaccurate 4reading-of the `liquid level in a tank;

`It isfageneralobject ofthe' invention topro# vide Ian improved liquid flevel'indicator for ac-` curate `reading of the' height of liquid in a .tank. Another objectjof the invention is to providea portable'-indicatingmember which can `be readily and Ieasilyattachedto aiflexi'ble tape or the likeV in a selected adjusted position.` u c f Other objects and advantages, of the invention will be vapparent from the following description of certain lpreferred .embodiments thereof, as 'shownin theagconpanying drawing, in which;

y"Figure lis a fragmentary sectional elevational View of an indicating apparatus constructed in a liquid-storagetank. w c c l d Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational View of an end of the `liquid level indicating plate illustrating one method `for quick selective attachment accordance with the instant invention placein s 20- thereojf toitssupporting'elenient; c

, Figure 3.'isa fragmentary 4.side elevational view of the end ofithe indicator plate `shown in Figure 2. i

Figure 4 is a sectional View Vof the indicatorplate taken in a plane indicat in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken in a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure2.

ed by the `line 4--4 selected adjusted position thereon in` accorda-nce' with'the level ofliquid ,inthe tank, so thatan accurate andreliabjle readingjcan be taken. l

Referring to Figuresir .tp 5, `the apparatus; illustrated Vconsists ofja tankflll having aw'blottoml wall 'Handatop `wall i2.` Access canfbeflifad tothe tank through an opening'iii in the top wall |2 with "Which a suitable hatch construction is associated. The hatch may include'afbodywlll having an `annular `'seat for elle agenfierit`jlykl` closure disc 16.]` Disc .l-Svislcarriedby ajpivoted clamping -lever I lffwhichtmay "beengagedf bY,-a

4 discl in'place.

suitable clamping device c 'iii ytothlold ycinsure,

mercerie gaugthe amount ofiquidjathe u tanken elongatedA gaugingelement inthe Aform In `gauging the amount of liquid in a liquid storage tank, it is customary to extend an elongated flexible element such as a graduated tape into the tank until a weight orplomb bob car` ried atthe lower end of the tape is resting on the bottom of the tank, so that the height of the liquid from the bottom of the tank to the liquid surface or level is indicated. Usually, it is cus` tomary to employ paste, chalk, or the like on the tape so that the extent of wettingof the tape i can be readily observed to obtain a reading of the upper surface level. These methods of indieating the extent of the wetting of the tape by the liquid are more or less unsatisfactory because of several disadvantages, for example creeping of the liquid along the tape, or receding of the liquid from its highest level on the tape.`

In accordance with the instant invention, the above and other disadvantages are overcomeby providing an accurate reliable indicator plate or element of a portable character which can be quickly attached or removed from the tape at any o'f'a graduated tape fl94'islprovided 'whichis adapted.' 'to extendI down jinto the, tank untill@ plomb .bob -2l) `carried at .the lower end ofthatape F91 engages .the bottom wall l.` `,Vifhen `thisfrsonll` tion jiaobtained and with theftape taut, the graduations .on the tape I9 willcorrectly read the distance `-from the bottom wall ofthe tank to the levellzll" of hthe liquid inithemtank. .ff In orderto enable laccurate#reading. of the actual extent of wetting ofthewtape I9 byHtlief liquid and therefore an accurate reading of 'the amount of liquid in the tank, a liquid levelindieating device is provided in the form of anindil eating plate or stick 22 made in two similar sections 23 and 24 ofelongated character. As seen most clearly in Figure 2, the side edges of the respective strip sections 23 and 24 are provided with respective series of liquid receiving openings in the form of transverse grooves 25 and 26.- The grooves 25 and 26 in each series are spaced equallyapart and the two series are staggered with respect to each other. `Preferably thes'pacing between the grooves corresponds to the spacing between the graduations 21 and the tape 2|.

The indicator plate 22 is preferably of a portable character and is adapted `for clamping en,- gagernent on the tape I9 in a selecte`d"`adjusted position in accordance with the level of liquid in the tank, so that the liquid level will be located in 3 the intermediate grooved portion of the plate. In this way a part of the indicating grooves 25 and 26 will be lled with liquid, thereby indicating the surface or level of the liquid at thetopmost groove which is filled. Such indicating grooves have been known prior to my invention (see publica` w tion entitled Instruction forlMeasuring, Sampling and Testing Shipments by Standard Inw spection Laboratory).

Referring to Figures 1 to 5,`the respective sec?- l ,the tape.

separating lugs 3|.

and as the sections are moved apart the lugs close together, and will engage the opposite edges of As seen in Figure 1, two lugs 3| are In the foregoing description, the embodiment illustrated has made use of grooves or openings for the purpose of indicating the liquid level. In place of such grooves or openings, other liquid indicating expedients can be employed, such as a strip of indicating paper, chalk, paste, and the like. Also the plate or stick 22 can serve as a mounting for devices such as a cup thermometer, which one may wish to partially immerse in the liquid.

' I claim:

1. Indicating means for quick attachment to provided at the upper end of section24 at either side of a single lug 3| on section 2 3. At the lower 'end of the sections, the reverse situation'is true, there being two lugs on section 23 and one lug on section 24. l y

Sections 23 and 24 of the indicator are springurged apart by a plurality of compression springs 36 seated in opposed recesses 31 of the sections (see Figure 5).. To limit separating movement .of the sections, a plurality of studs 38 (Figure 4) n areprovided. Each stud 38 is threaded in one'of the sections and has its head slidably disposed in a sleeve 39 secured in the opposite section as by a press-iit. Sleeve 39 is provided with a shoulder 40 providing a stop for engagement with the head of the stud.

In use the sections 23, 24 of the indicator plate are pressed together, compressing springs 36k and The indicator plate is then placed on thetape in the desired position so that sections 23 and 24 separate underthe action of springs .36 to engage lugs 3| rmly with the edges of the tape.

`Jl'rom the above description it4 is seen that a quick, detachable snap-on fastening device is provided for securing the indicatingplate 22 on the elongated gauging velement or tape I9. In this Way the indicating plate can be quickly attached to the tape in a desired position for accurate reading of the upper surface level of the liquid in the tank. Also, because of the portable character of the grooved indicator plate, it

can be used with a plurality of tapes or gauging elements at a plurality of tanks.

an elongated gauging element for liquid storage tanks, said indicating means comprising a device made of at least two sections, spring means interp osed between said sections urging them apart, andgripping lugs on each of said sections for y i engaging the edge of the elongated gauging element, the lugs of each section overlapping the opposite section, whereby the lugs are urged together by the spring means urging the sections apart, the element-engaging surfaces of said lugs being inclined to cause gripping of the element at the base of the lugs. v

2. An `indicator for quick attachment to, and lengthwise adjustment along, an elongated gauging element of the kind which is adapted to be employed in connection with the measuring of liquid in a container, said indicator comprising companion, elongated sections arranged in sideby-side relation, a plurality of gripping elements spaced along said sections `for supporting said sections as a unit on said gauging element lengthwise of, adjacent, and in parallel relation with respect to, the latter, whereby said unit may be partially immersed in said liquid tp indicate the level thereof, certain of said gripping elements being iixed to each of said sections and overlapping the other section, resilient means for urging said sections apart, said elements having portions which, by the action of said resilient means on said sections, are caused to engage opposite sides of said gauging element inV such a manner as to prevent detachmentA of said indicator except by the movement of said sections toward one another against the action of `said resilient means.

' R. W. BLAKE. 

